Ammonium nitrate-alkali metal nitrate explosive containing aluminum of particular size distribution



Patented Mar. 7, 1957 3,307,986 AMMONIUM NITRATE-ALKALI METAL NITRATE EXPLOSIVE CONTAINING ALUMINUM OF PAR- TICULAR SIZE DISTU'IION Charles H. Grant, Chisholm, Minn., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Oct. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 419,262 10 Claims. (Cl. 149-21) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 299,115, filed July 31, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to explosives and more particularly is concerned with a novel water resistant, metallized high energy explosive composition.

The novel explosive composition of the present invention comprises (on a weight basis);

(a) Alkali metal nitrate to about 60%,

(b) Ammonuim nitrate from about 10 to about 85%,

(c) Particulate aluminum from about to about 40%,

(d) Water from about 5 to about 25%, and

(e) A gelling or thickening agent from about 0.2 to about 1.5%.

In a preferred embodiment, the present novel composition comprises on a weight basis;

(21) Sodium nitrate from about 5 to about 40%,

(-b) Ammonuim nitrate from about 15 to about 80%,

(c) Particulate aluminum from about to about 30%,

(d) Water from about 6 to about 16%,

(e) Liquid, organic water-miscible liquid extender from about 2 to about 16%, and

(f) A water-swellable, hydrophobic,'cross-linkable gum and cross-linking agent therefor from about 0.5 to about 1.5

The particulate aluminum to be employed in the present composition ranges from about 4 toabout 150 mesh US. Standard Sieve and has a gauge (thickness) of from about 0.025 to about 30 mils. The metal is further characterized in having a particle size distribution wherein from about 60 to about 80 percent of the aluminum is from about 12 to 50 mesh the balance being substantially 50 to 100 mesh and wherein from about 5 to 10% of the particles have a gauge of up to 1 mil, from about 70 to about 80% have a gauge of from 1 to about 10 mils and the balance are substantially from 10 to about 30 mils in gauge.

Ordinarily, the aluminum metal employed has a particle size and gauge distribution as set forth in Table I.

TABLE I Metal particle size (U.S.

Standard Sieve), mesh: Distribution, percent 50-100 25-35 100-150 about 5 Metal gauge:

Up to 1 mil 6-8 1 to 5 mil 14-17 5-10 mil 73-77 10-15 mil 3-7 15 mil .l

Preferably the metal ranges from about 0.025 to about 5 mils in gauge.

The term aluminum as used herein is meant to include both aluminum and aluminum alloys containing at least about 60% by weight aluminum.

Liquid organic fluid extenders which ordinarily are employed are those having a favorable carbon-oxygen ratio such that there is no detrimental competition of the carbon with the metal for available oxygen in the system. Monohydnoxy alkanols containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, formamide and mixtures thereof are particularly suitable. Preferably, the carbon-oxygen balanced compounds, e.g., methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol and formamide are used as extenders or diluents in the present composition. Ordinarily, formamide, which has a low carbon content and relatively high boiling point is utilized as the liquid extender.

Any of a variety of water-resistant natural gums and synthetic gelling or thickening agents can be employed. Particularly suitable gums for use in the present composition are the guar gums or mixtures of guar and karaya gums. These materials not only provide the water insolubility desired in the product but also readily are crosslinked to any predetermined degree thereby providing the necessary flow and nonrigid characteristics to the product. Any of a variety of conventional crosslinking agents can be employed to achieve the crosslinking of the gum. The amount of crosslinking agent used in such that the resulting water resistant explosive is pliable and gelatinous. To illustrate, with a guar gum, about 2.5 weight percent (based on gum weight) of a 5 percent sodium dichromate solution has been found to be a satisfactory agent for preparing the present composition. Likewise, a saturated solution of ammonium nitrate in liquid ammonia (Divers liquid) can be used. Conveniently to aid dispersion of this latter crosslinking material throughout the mix it can be diluted up to about 50 percent or more by volume with water.

Because of the nature of the present composition, a portion of the ammonium nitrate is in solution in the aqueous medium. Ordinarily, however, from about 5 to about 40 percent and preferably from about 12 to about 35 percent of the total weight of ammonium nitrate is present as a solid, particulate grained material passing a 20 mesh U.S. Standard Sieve. While these present invention requires the presence of ammonium nitrate as the oxidizer, at least a part of the ammonium nitrate may be replaced by sodium-lithium-potassiurn or other alkali metal nitrate, if desired, to obtain increased or decreased density, sensitivity or other properties.

The ammonium nitrate solution can be added directly as such in preparation of the explosive composition. Preferably, however, a predetermined amount of water within the disclosed range of from about 5 to about 25 weight percent of the total composition weight is added to a mixture of the liquid organic fluid extender supersaturated with ammonium nitrate and gelling or thickening agent. The water temperature is maintained to provide a maximum temperature of the thickener-ammonium nitrate containing liquid organic water mixture of about 140 F. Ordinarily in operation the mix temperature is maintained from about 0 F. to about 140 F., and preferably from about 50 to about F. Solid particulate ammonium nitrate is then added to the aqueous mixture so as to provide a saturated solution of ammonium nitrate. A prime advantage of this latter procedure resides in the fact that the temperature of the mixture readily is controlled by rate of ammonium nitrate addition thereby assuring that detrimental temperature dependent phase transformations of ammonium nitrate do not occur.

The terms mesh or mesh size as applied herein to various materials means size determinations made by standard, vibratory, controlled test procedures.

The present novel product safely can be stored, shipped and handled either in the bulk state or when placed in bags or other containers. Conveniently for use in bore hole blasting operations the product can be placed in polyethylene or other easily deformable bags so as to provide preweighed units of material.

3 In use, the bagged materials can be directly inserted into a bore hole, or for enlarged, chambered holes, e.g., the bags can be slit or otherwise opened before placing in the hole. This latter action assures that the explosive for physical appearances of deterioration and weighed. Tests run on multiple samples showed no visible effect of water attack after the lengthy, rigorous test. These samples indicated substantially no weight losses from this composition will fill the bore hole volume and conform 5 test. with the wall configuration of the hole. About 30 pounds of the material were placed in a Because of its high resistance to detrimental degradation 4-inch diameter cylindrical cardboard tube and subjected by water and its density (1.15 to about 1.3 grams/cubic to a standard high velocity rifle bullet test. No initiation centimeter), the present novel explosive composition finds occurred. a high utility both in dry holes as well as wet holes Explosive tests were run both underwater and in granite. which ordinarily must be treated and loaded by special Comparative shots of prilled ammonium nitrate-5 percent techniques. In wet or water-containing holes the explofuel oil were used as a control. sive can be simply poured therein, whereupon it displaces For the underwater shots, a standard test was employed the water and fills the hole. Such loaded wet holes can wherein an explosive charge is detonated in a body of stand for extended periods, up to several weeks or more, 1 water at about half the depth of the lake or pond (3 0 feet prior to firing without encountering any detrimental degrain the present case) and the resulting pressure profile condation of the load or decreased explosive energy. verted into electric impulses by one or more piezoelectric Detonation of the explosive is accomplished by convengauges suspended in the water at the same level a known tional boosters and primers, shaped charges and other horizontal distance away from the charge. The impulses high energy initiators. The material is insensitive to an are recorded on an oscilloscope and photographed. Peak electric blasting cap and is not initiated by a high velocity pressure, shock energy, bubble energy, after burn energy rifle bullet. and total energy of the explosive readily are calculated by The following examples will serve to further illustrate the methods described in Underwater Explosives, R. H. the present invention, but are not meant to limit it thereto. Cole, Princeton University Press (1948), from the ob- Example 1. A 1000 pound batch of the present exploserved impulses. sive composition was prepared as follows. Sufiicient am- Table II summarizes the results of underwater test shots monium nitrate was added to about 13 parts by weight of the present explosive composition and the ammonium formamide to provide a supersaturated solution at room nitrate-fuel oil control.

TABLE II I Peak Shock After Burn Bubble Total Run N 0. Composition Pressure, Energy, Energy, Ener y, Energy,

1b./sq. in. KcaL/gm. KcalJgm. Kcal. gm. Kcal./gm.

1 Present Composition 4, 200 0.896 0.021 0.930 1.847 2 Ammonium Nitrate, 5% Fuel 2,060 0.458 0. 004 0.440 0.902

Oil (Control).

temperature (i.e. about 25 (1.). (Parts by weight as Crater shots carried out in granite with these same used in this example are based on the total batch of prodexplosive compositions showed that for comparable uct.) About 1 part by weight guar gum was added thereto charges the present novel composition gave a crater and the mix agitated to disperse the gum throughout the volume about 4.96 times that of the ammonium nitratemass. This was followed by the addition of about 12 fuel oil. parts by weight water saturated with ammonium nitrate at In a second run, a 1000 pound batch of the explosive about 60 F. (The aqueous ammonium nitrate solution composition was prepared by adding sufficient ammonium contained from about 17.5 to about 20 parts by weight, nitrate to about 13 parts by weight formamide' to pro= based on total mix, ammonium nitrate.) The resulting vide a supersaturated solution at room temperature. mixture was agitated to provide a substantially homogene- About 0.9 part by weight guar gum was added to this ous mass after which time the mixture was permitted to solution and the mix agitated to disperse the gum through stand without mixing or stirring for a period of time, e.g. out the mass. This was followed by the addition of at least about 15 minutes, to assure that the gum swelled about 12 parts by weight water (about 100 R). Seven to a predetermined state. After this period, about 10 parts teen parts by weight particulate ammonium nitrat then y Weight Sodium 11hr about 20 Parts y Weight of were added at a controlled rate to the resulting aqueous p i l e l minum n fr m about 2 to about 2 dispersion to provide a solution saturated with ammo P y Weight of the fine grain ammonium nitrate 811enium nitrate at about 60 F. The resutling mixture was cessively were blended into the mix. The aluminum was agitated to provide a substantially homogeneous mass about 80 percent 12-50 mesh, balance substantially 50 to ft hi h i the mixture was permitted to tg d 100 mesh Standard v wherein e about 5 without mixing or stirring for a period of time, e.g. at to about 10 Pe Of the llelrtleleS had a IhaXlIhhlh gauge least about 15 minutes, to assure that the gum swelled of'about 1 h ab011 t75 pereehbwere from 1 to about 10 to a predetermined state. After this period about 12 mils, the balance being substantially 10 to about 30 mils parts b i h di nitrate about 20 part; b eitrht 111 e- Abbut 400 h e m e of a mixture of of particulated aluminum and from about 22.3 parts by 200 cubic centimeters Diver s liquid d luted wth about an i h f the fi grain ammonium nitrate successively q el Vehlme of Water was blended Into the final 6031- were blended into the mix. The aluminum was about P05111011 Cross-link thegurn. 80 percent 12-50 mesh, balance substantially 50 to 100 i z g gfis gg gs p g s vlscous but mesh (Us. Standard Sieve) wherein from about 5 to a y 0 a 011 grams P ellble about 10 percent of the particles had a maximum gauge j l of about 1 mil, about 75 percent were from 1 to about mine; fgiig figg stgl l(12 315551855 Was deter- 10 mils, the balance being substantially 10 to about 30 A We.0hed m 1 c b 0 d b h mils in gauge. About 400 cubic centimeters of a mixture e SE1 P e Was meree In a Water at of 200 cub1c centimeters Divers liquid diluted with about tained at a temperature of about 50 F. and having a large excess of water per sample weight. The Water was continuously agitated by high speed stirrers positioned above the samples for a three hour period. After this time, the samples were removed from the bath, examined an equal volume of water was blended into the final composition to cross-link the gum.

The resulting composition was highly viscous but flowable and had a density of about 1.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

6 This composition exhibited substantially the same de- (3) sirable water resistance and excellent detonation characteristics as the explosive prepared in the preceding run. NaNO 25 x mpl 2.A number of explosives were prepared H O 12 in the same manner and using the same constituents as set 5 Methanol 11 forth in Example 1 except that various other organic Al (particulate) 25 liquid extenders were substituted for the formamide. Gum 1.5 Table III tabulates these compositions. NH NO 25,5

TABLE III Percent by Weight I II III IV NZLNO'l 0.5 5.. 2o 10. H2O 10 10 12. Organic liq Methanol-5 Propylene Gly- Glycerol-5 Formamide-G,

c -5. Ethylene Glycol-6. Aluminum 20 15 20. Gum 0.5 1 1.5 1.3. Ammonium Nitrate 64 59. 48.5 44.7.

All of the products exhibited substantially complete (4) water resistance, were flowable, ranged from about 1.15 NaNO 36 n e 3 to about 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter in density, and H O 12 had explosive energies about the same as that shown for g gg z 11 the composition of Example 1. A1 (particulgte) nu 20 Example 3.A composition 'was prepared in accord- Gum 1 ance with the procedure described and using the compo- NH E nents set forth in Example 1. However for this product 4 3 the aluminum content was increased to 25 weight percent of the total and the solid ammonium nitrate reduced ac- NaNO3 05 cordingly. The particulate aluminum employed was a H0O 14 mixture of (1) about 70% of a material ranging from Bfltanol 6 about 6070% of 30-50 mesh, about 25-35% of 50-l00 A1 (particulate) 5 mesh and about 5% minus 100 mesh US. Standard Sieve- Gum 05 and having a gauge of from about 68% up to 1 mil, NH4NQ3 74 about 14-17% from 1 to 5 mil, about 73-77% from 5 to 7 10 mil, balance substantially 10 to 15 mil and (2) about (6) 30% of a flake material having a thickness of from about KNO 0.1 to about 4 mils and ranging in size from abOut 4 t0 H O 5 about 100 mesh US. Standard Sieve. Formamide 15 This product exhibited excellent Water resistance, was A1 (particulate) 19 viscous but flow able and did not detonate When S j B 5O Gum 1 to the standard high velocity rifle bullet test. NH NO 10 Underwater explosive tests and crater shots indicated this product released explosive energies about 20% greater than that provided by the product of Example 1. NaNOs 0 5 In a manner similar to that described -f0r the f 2 going examples, highly useful, water resistant, fiowa ble, rm mide 1 high energy, explosive compositions of the present in- 1 (Particulate) 5 vention can he prepared having the following fC'TmIfl Gum 1 tion (on a weight basis). 4 3 3O (1) Various modifications can be made in the present in- Percent vention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof NaNO 8 for i is understood that I limit myself only as defined in H2O 12 the appended claims. Formamide 11 I claim: I A1 (particulate) 15 1 Water resistant metallized, flowable explosive com- Guar gum 1 position which comprises on a weight basis; NH4NO3 53 (a) to about 60 percent alkali metal nitrate,

(b) from about 10 to about 85 percent ammonium (2) nitrate, KNO 8 (c) from about 5 to about 25 percent water, H O 12 (d) from about 0.2 to about 1.5 percent of a member Propanol 11 selected from the group consisting of water swell- Al (particulate) 25 able gelling and thickening agents, and Gum 1 (e) from about 5 to about 40 percent particulate alumi- NH.,,NO 43 num, said aluminum ranging in size from about 4 to about 150 mesh U.S. Standard Sieve and having a gauge of from about 0.025 to about 30 mils and being further characterized in having a particle size distribution wherein from about 60 to about 80 percent is from about 12 to about 50 mesh the balance being substantially 50 to 100 mesh and wherein from about to about percent of the particles have a maximum gauge of about 1 mil, from about 10 to about 80 percent have a gauge of from 1 to about 10 mils, balance ranging from 10 to about 30 mils in gauge.

2. A water resistant, high energy, metallized, fiowable explosive composition which comprises on a weight basis;

(a) from about 5 to about 40 percent sodium nitrate,

(b) from about to about 80 percent ammonium nitrate,

(c) from about 6 to about 16 percent water,

(d) from about 2 to about 16 percent of a liquid, organic water-miscible liquid extender,

(e) from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent of a waterswellable, hydrophobic, cross-linkable gum and crosslinking agent therefor, and

(f) from about 10 to about 30 percent particulate aluminum, said aluminum having (1) a particle size of from about 30 to about 100 mesh wherein the particle size distribution ranges from about 60 to about 70 percent of about 30 to about 50 mesh, from about to about 35 percent of from about 50 to about 100 mesh, balance from about 100 to about 150 mesh and (2) a gauge of from about 1 to about 15 mils and distribution such that about 6 to about 9 percent of the particles have a maximum thickness of about 1 mil, from about 14 to about 17 percent range from about 1 to about 15 mils, from about 73 to about 77 percent range from about 5 to about 10 mils, balance substantially from 10 to about 15 mils.

3. The composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the Water miscible organic liquid is a member selected from the group consisting essentially of monohydroxy alkanols containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, formamide and mixtures thereof.

4. A water resistant, metallized high energy, flowable explosive composition which comprises on a weight basis:

(a) about 10 percent sodium nitrate (b) from about 37.5 to about 45 percent ammonium nitrate (c) about 12 percent water (d) about 13 percent formamide (e) about 1 percent of guar gum and a crosslinking agent therefor, and

(f) from about 19 to about 26.5 percent particulate aluminum, said aluminum having (1) a particle size of from about to about 100 mesh wherein theparticle size distribution ranges from about 60 to about 70 percent of about 30 to about 50 mesh, from about 25 to about percent of from about 50 to about 100 mesh, balance from about 100 to about 150 mesh and (2) a gauge of from about 1 to about 15 mils and distribution such that about 6 to about 9 percent of the particles have a maximum thickness of about 1 mil, from about 14 to about 17 percent range from about 1 to about 5 mils, from about 73 to about 77 percent range from about 5 to about 10 mils, balance substantially from 10 to about 15 mils.

5. A water resistant, metallized, high energy, fiowable explosive composition which comprises on a weight basis:

(a) about 10 percent sodium nitrate,

(b) from about 39 to about 44 percent ammonium nitrate,

(0) about 12 percent water (d) about 13 percent formamide (e) about 1 percent of guar gum and a crosslinking agent therefor, and

(f) from about 20 to about 25 percent particulate aluminum, said aluminum being a mixture of about of a material ranging from about 6070% of 30-50 mesh, about 25-35% of 50-100 mesh and about 5% minus 100 mesh US. Standard Sieve and having a gauge of from about 68% up to 1 mil, about 14-17% from 1 to 5 mil, about 7377% from 5 to 10 mil, balance substantially 10 to 15 mil and about 30% of a flake material having a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 4 mils and ranging in size from about 4 to about 100 mesh U.S. Standard Sieve.

6. A process for preparing a water resistant, metallized high energy explosive which comprises:

(a) adding from about 0.5 to about 1.5 parts by weight of a cross-linkable, hydrophobic, water-swellable guar gum to from about 2 to about 16 parts by Weight of a water miscible, organic liquid selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy alkanols having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, ethylene, glycol, proplyene glycol, glycerol, formamide and mixtures thereof, said organic liquid being supersaturated with ammonium nitrate,

(b) agitating said mix to disperse said gum throughout the mass,

(0) introducing from about 6 to about 16 parts by weight of an aqueous saturated ammonium nitrate solution therein and mixing thereby to provide a substantially homogeneous mass,

((1) stopping the mixing operation and permititng the mixture to stand for a period of time such that the gum swells to a predetermined state,

(e) successively blending into said mixture (1) from about 5 to about 40 parts by weight sodium nitrate,

(2) from about 10 to about 30 parts by Weight particulate aluminum, said aluminum being from about 60 to about percent of 12 to about 50 mesh, balance being substantially 50 to mesh in size and Where from about 5 to about 10 percent of the particles have a maximum thickness of about 1 mil, from about 70 to about 80 percent range from about 1 to about 10 mils in thickness, the balance being substantially from 10 to about 30 mils, and

(3) from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight ammonium nitrate,

(f) adding to said mass about 0.2 cubic centimeter per pound weight of total mixture of a member selected from the group consisting of aqueous sodium dichromate containing about 5% by weight of the solute and Divers liquid as cross-linking agent for said gum, and

(g) blending said cross-linking agent into the final composition thereby to cross-link said gum to a predetermined degree and produce a water resistant, high energy, fiowable metallized explosive.

7. A process for preparing a water resistant, metallized high energy explosive which comprises:

(a) dispersing about 1 part by weight of a guar gum in about 13 parts by weight formamide supersaturated with ammonium nitrate,

(b) adding thereto about 12 parts by weight water saturated with ammonium nitrate at about 60 F. and agitating the mixture to provide a substantially homogeneous mass,

(c) stopping said agitation and permitting the mass to stand for at least about 15 minutes whereupon the guar gum swells to a predetermined state,

((1) successively blending into said mixture 1) about 10 parts by Weight sodium nitrate,

(2) about 20 parts by weight particulated aluminum, said aluminum being about 80 percent from about 12 to about 50 mesh, balance being substantially about 50 to about 100 mesh and from about 5 to about 10 percent of the particles having a maximum gauge of about 1 mil, about 75 percent being from about 1 to about 10 mils in gauge, the balance being substantially from about 10 to about 30 mils in thickness, and

(3) from about 20 to about 25 parts by Weight ammonium nitrate (e) adding about 0.2 cubic centimeter Divers liquid per pound weight of the total mixture to said mass, said Divers liquid being diluted with about an equal volume of water, and

(f) blending the aqueous solution of said Divers liquid into the final composition thereby to crosslink said gum to a predetermined degree and produce a Water resistant, high energy, flowable, metallized explosive.

8. The process as defined in claim 6 and including the step of providing in situ the aqueous saturated ammonium nitrate solution added to the dispersion of the gum and organic liquid supersaturated with ammonium nitrate by adding from about 6 to about 16 parts by weight water to said dispersion to provide an aqueous mix having a maximum temperature of about 140 F. and introducing particulate ammonium nitrate into said aqueous mix to provide an aqueous saturated ammonium nitrate solution therein.

9. The process as defined in claim 7 and including the step of providing in situ the aqueous saturated ammonium nitrate solution added to the dispersion of the guar gum and tormamide supersaturated with ammonium nitrate by adding about 12 parts by Weight water to said dispe sion to provide an aqueous mix having a maximum temperature of about 140 F. and introducing particulate ammonium nitrate into said aqueous mix to provide an aqueous saturated ammonium nitrate solution therein.

-10. A process for preparing a water resistant, metallized high energy explosive which comprises:

(a) adding from about 0.5 to about 1.5 parts by weight of a cross-linkable, hydrophobic, water-swellable guar gum to from about 2 to about 16 parts by weight of a water miscible, organic liquid selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy alkanols having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, formamide and mixtures thereof, said organic liquid being supersaturated with ammonium nitrate,

(b) agitating said mix to disperse said gum throughout the mass,

(c) introducing into said mass from about to about 25 parts by weight Water while the temperature of the resulting aqueous mixture is maintained at a maximum of about 140 F.,

(d) adding solid particulate ammonium nitrate to said aqueous mixture so as to provide a solution saturated with respect to ammonium nitrate and mixing thereby to provide a susbtantially homogeneous mass,

(e) stopping the mixing operation and permitting the mixture to stand for a period of time such that the gum swells to a predetermined state,

( f) successively blending into said mixture (1) from about 5 to about 40 parts by weight sodium nitrate,

(2) from about 10 to about 30 parts by weight particulate aluminum, said aluminum being from about to about 80 percent of 12 to about 50 mesh, balance being substantially 50 to 100 mesh in size and where from about 5 to about 10 percent of the particles have a maximum thickness of about 1 mil, from about to about percent range from about 1 to about 10 mils in thickness, the balance being substantially from 10 to about 30 mils, and

(3) from about 10 to about 40 parts by Weight ammonium nitrate,

(g) adding to said mass about 0.2 cubic centimeter per pound weight of total mixture of a member selected from the group consisting of aqueous sodium dichromate containing about 5% by weight of the solute and Divers liquid as cross-linking agent for said gum, and

(h) blending said cross-linking agent into the final composition thereby to cross-link said gum to a predetermined degree and produce a water resistant, high energy, flowable metallized explosive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,127 3/1963 Gritfith et al. 149-41 X 3,094,069 6/1963 Hradel et al. 149-43 X 3,094,443 6/1963 Hradel et al. 149-43 X 3,121,036 2/1964 Cook et al. 149-41 X 3,139,029 6/1964 Bjork 149-43 X 3,153,606 10/1964 Breza et al. 149-42 X 3,190,777 6/1965 Breza et al. 149-57 3,214,307 10/1965 Logan et al. 14943 X 3,236,180 2/1966 Towle 149-46 X CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN R. PADGETT, L. DEWAYNE RUT- LEDGE, Examiners.

S, J, LECHERT, IR., Assistant Examiner, 

1. A WATER RESISTANT METALLIZED, FLOWABLE EXPLOSIVE COMPOSTION WHICH COMPRISES ON A WEIGHT BASIS; (A) TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT ALKALI METAL NITRATE, (B) FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 85 PERCENT AMMONIUM NITRATE, (C) FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 25 PERCENT WATER, (D) FROM ABOUT 0.2 TO ABOUT 1.5 PERCENT OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WATER SWELLABLE GELLING AND THICKENING AGENTS, AND (E) FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 40 PERCENT PARTICULATE ALUMINUM, SAID ALUMINUM RANGING IN SIZE FORM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 150 MESH U.S. STANDARD SIEVE AND HAVING A GAUGE OF FROM ABOUT 0.025 TO ABOUT 30 MILS AND BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN HAVING A PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION WHEREIN FROM ABOUT 60 TO ABOUT 80 PERCENT IS FROM ABOUT 12 TO ABOUT 50 MESH THE BALANCE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY 50 TO 100 MESH AND WHEREIN FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE PARTICLES HAVE A MAXIMUM GAUGE OF ABOUT 1 MIL, FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 80 PERCENT HAVE A GAUGE OF FROM 1 TO ABOUT 10 MILS, BALANCE RANGING FROM 10 TO ABOUT 30 MILS IN GAUGE.
 6. A PROCESS FOR PREPARING A WATER RESISTANT, METALLIZED HIGH ENERGY EXPLOSIVE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) ADDING FROM ABOUT 0.5 TO ABOUT 1.5 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A CROSS-LINKABLE HYDROPHOBIC, WATER-SWELLABLE GUAR GUM TO FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 16 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A WATER MISCIBLE, ORGANIC LIQUID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MONOHYDROXY ALKANOLS HAVING FROM 1 TO ABOUT 4 CARBON ATOMS, ETHYLENE, GYCOL, PROPLYENE GYLCOL, GLYCEROL, FROMAMIDE AND MIXTURES THEREOF, SAID ORGAINC LIQUID BEING SUPERSATURATED WITH AMMONIUM NITRATE, (B) AGITATING SAID MIX TO DISPERSE SAID GUM THROUGHOUT THE MASS, (C) INTRODUCING FROM ABOUT 6 TO ABOUT 16 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF AN AQUEOUS SATURATED AMMONIUM NITRATE SOLUTION THEREIN AND MIXING THEREBY TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY HOMOGENEOUS MASS, (D) STOPPING THE MIXING OPERATION AND PERMITTING THE MIXTURE TO STAND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SUCH THAT THE GUM SWELLS TO A PREDETERMINED STATE, (E) SUCCESSIVELY BLENDING INTO SAID MIXTURE (1) FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 40 PARTS BY WEIGHT SODIUM NITRATE, (2) FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 30 PARTS BY WEIGHT PARTICULATE ALUMINUM, SAID ALUMINUM BEING FROM ABOUT 60 TO ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF 12 TO ABOUT 50 MESH, BALANCE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY 50 TO 100 MESH IN SIZE AND WHERE FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE PARTICLES HAVE A MAXIMUM THICKNESS OF ABOUT 1 MIL, FROM ABOUT 70 TO ABOUT 80 PERCENT RANGE FROM ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 10 MILS IN THICKNESS, THE BALANCES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM 10 TO ABOUT 30 MILS, AND (3) FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 40 PARTS BY WEIGHT AMMONUUM NITRATE, (F) ADDING TO SAID MASS ABOUT 0.2 CUBIC CENTIMETER PER POUND WEIGHT OF TOTAL MIXTURE OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AQUEOUS SODIUM DICHROMATE CONTAINING ABOUT 5% BY WEIGHT OF THE SOLUTE AND DIVER''S LIQUID AS CROSS-LIKING AGENT FOR SAID GUM, AND (G) BLENDING SAID CROSS-LIKING AGENT INTO THE FINAL COMPOSITION THEREBY TO CROSS-LINK SAID GUM TO A PREDETERMINED DEGREE AND PRODUCE A WATER RESISTANT, HIGH ENERGY, FLOWABLE METALLIZED EXPLOSIVE. 